Napoli owner Aurelio de Laurentiis has hit out at fellow Serie A chiefs for accepting a new television rights deal with DAZN and Sky Italia.
The agreement was announced on Monday with 17 clubs in favour, one abstaining and two voting against a deal that sees the media companies paying a combined 900million euros a year for the next five years.
The revenue is slightly below what the clubs currently receive and De Laurentiis was not impressed, interrupting a press briefing by Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo to say: “It’s a defeat for Italian football, with this offer Italian football will die.
“Sky and DAZN are not good for Italian football. Italian football always thinks it needs to be supported by others, but the fans are the asset of a football club.
“Then there is the stupidity of making a five-year agreement. In times of crisis, cinema and football are two things that are the panacea for the pain of everyday life but we have put this dream on the back burner.
“This deal is convenient but it will never realise the value of Italian football.”
Torino chairman Urbano Cairo admitted the revenues were below what the clubs had hoped to receive but felt it was the safe choice when compared to the idea of Serie A creating its own media platform.
He told reporters: “The figures were below our initial expectations and below our current contracts but I think we were right to continue our relationship with Sky and DAZN.
“Creating a Serie A TV channel now would add further risk to an already risky business.”
